I've been participating in the Reel-Time BBS since July and have found it a great way to keep in touch with different areas, learn new tricks of the trades, and meet new friends.
I spent my summers growing up on the Parker River in Newbury, Mass, which is the main estuary that lies inside Plum Island. It joins the southern end of the PI River, the Rowley & Eagle Neck Rivers, and finally the Ipswich River when they all dump out into the Ipswich Bay Sound.
My summers back then were spent clamming & fishing on the river for 3-4 days at a time. My Dad would buy an 'ol wood boat & fix it up. My mother, three brothers, and I would live aboard from Wednesday or so until my Dad joined us for the weekend. Then we'd anchor the boat @ Crane Beach. If I only learned "how to" fish for stripers back then . . . like I know now!
But of course, they weren't as plentiful as they are now. I've seen firsthand the results achieved by the self-imposed recreational limits. My fears now lie in the "Management" ((Hey - the same fears with my job!)). I keep pretty extensive logs of time, dates, weather conditions, along with the "catch" data and have had repeat successes from year-to-year for specific dates, regardless of moon phases. Pretty interesting! For example, the 2nd weekend in June has ALWAYS produced the most & biggest fish for my brothers and I.
Boating is tied with my 1st love of fishing (sorry to my new bride!), followed by the fly-tying. All of my brothers have boats and we've had an assortment from wood to 'glass to single inboards to barn-burnin' twin-screw OB Grady Whites. I've spent enough years in boat yards that I've "brokered" about a dozen boats for family & friends. If I could offer any advice to any Reel-Timer who has a boat question, I'll provide an honest answer or put you through to someone who can.
This year I've enjoyed taking out people new to fishing or those new to fishing from the boat. As Larry stated in his review of this season, sometimes our best memories are those that we've seen others experience. I've enjoyed the BBS and have been and will be a "meat slinger", "plugger", or "one with the long rod" at many times and maybe even the same day. Lefty Kreh himself once said "if I can't reach the fish or can't get them on a fly - believe me - I'm the FIRST one to pick up a spinning or other type rod, 'cause I'm first & foremost a fisherman." I like that quote!
Signed . . . just another Fisherman